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a reference to Iranian affairs during the last two years, and nothing indicative
of the slightest friction between the two countries. The accompanying article,
taken from the Journal de Moscou of the 16th March, is therefore of a certain interest.
Though it concludes with an expression of confidence that the Iranian autho
rities will not tolerate the use of their country by Germany as a base of operations,
the article as a whole evinces the clearest concern at the success of German pro
paganda in that country, and suggests that a number of Soviet-Iranian difficulties
which have arisen in the course of the last year are due to this propaganda, if
thev are not actually “ 1’echo du germanophilisme mis a la mode par certains fonc-
tionnaires iraniens It is also suggested that an alleged recent cooling-off in the
relations between Iran and “ such countries as France and Czechoslovakia ’ may
be attributed to the same cause.
2. The article is padded out, in the usual Soviet fashion, with a good deal
that is far-fetched and absurd. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. does not hesitate, for instance, to
insinuate that as a result of Dr. Schacht’s recent journey, Persia is now included
in the field of Germany’s colonial aspirations, and that the memoirs of W assmuss,
which are shortly to be published in Germany, will serve as a useful handbook
for the emissaries of fascism now working in Iran. And in his review of the growth
of German influence since the war he conveniently forgets to mention that that in
fluence suffered an important set-back when the construction of the northern
section of the trunk railway was transferred from German to other hands. He
does, however, assert that apart from the few dozen German specialists in the service
of the Iranian Government, there are about 800 other German subjects engaged
in economic or cultural activities, and that these are especially to be found in the
regions bordering on the Soviet frontiers, where they are in close contact with
Japanese agents and Russian refugees. It would be interesting to know whether
there is any truth in this assertion, and whether, in particular, the very large figure
for the German colony is correct.
3. For the rest, the Soviet Government are evidently more than a little nervous
at the possibility of a German air service to Japan via Iran and Afghanistan.
I gather from the reports I have seen from time to time in the print sections that
the Afghan Government are not very likely to view this project with favour, but
in any event one would have supposed that Soviet influence in Sinkiang was quite
sufficient to give the Moscow authorities a deciding voice in the matter.
4. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran.
( 47 )
SOCIETE DES NATIONS,
Communique au C. 237. 1937
Conseil. Geneve, le 21 mai 1937.
Requete du Gouvernement de l’Irak conformement a l’Article 11, para-
GRAPHE 2, DU PACTE.
Lettre du Gouvernement de VIran au Secretaire general.
Delegation permanente de ITran aupres de la
Societe des Nations.
Geneve, le 20 mai 1937.
Monsieur le Secretaire general,
Comme suite a votre communique date du 4 mai, concernant la demande du
Gouvernement royal d’lrak, en vue de retirer de 1’ordre du jour de la 97eme session
du Conseil de la Societe des Nations sa requete en vertu de I’article 11 § 2 ( 1 ), j’ai
1’honneur de vous informer que d’ordre de mon Gouvernement, je suis autorise
d’acquiescer a cette demande.
Veuillez agreer, Monsieur le Secretaire general, I’assurance de ma haute
consideration.
(signe) Abdollah Bahramy.
( l ) Voir C. 224. 1937